Robert McCoy was born at the mouth of Wheeling Creek, Va., where the city of Wheeling is now situated, May 20, 1787. His parents came here from Washington Co., Pa., about one year previous to this. Some years later, probably about 1792, the family moved down the Ohio River to Boonsboro, Ky., and soon after settled in Nicholas Co., Ky. They were troubled more or less with the Indians. One event will be interesting to all. All the men were gathered together for the purpose of driving back an attacking party of Indians. Daniel's wife and children fled at night through the thick woods in thicker darkness, with her four children, Andra being a babe in her arms. She, alone, with her children, made her way safely to the block house two miles distant. This was in Clark County, Ky. When Robert neared manhood, he and his brother George went to Ohio, and the latter learned blacksmithing and wagon making, returned to Kentucky, and made the first wagon ever seen in Nicholas County, Ky. Soon after this, Robert and William went to Ohio, settling in Madison Co. Robert soon removed to Highland Co., Ohio, where he purchased a large tract of land, and married Miss Home. He opened a farm and erected buildings thereon. His four older children, Angus, Margaret, Louisa, and Mary Jane were born here. Here his wife died in 1825. The younger children, Louisa and Mary Jane, made their home with their uncle, James Home; they were adopted and brought up by him, and were married at his home. Robert remained on his farm with his two older children until he married again, December, 1826, to Nancy Oldaker. Five years later he sold his farm, and invested his means in the preparation of a machine he called a self-propeller, or perpetual motion, and continued his efforts in this direction until all was lost. He then removed to Greensburg, Ind., and kept hotel for two years. He then built a mill on Sand Creek, near Greensburg; sold this, and returned to Highland Co., Ohio. This was in 1838. He lived a number of years at Russell Station. He then removed to Centerville, Clinton Co., Ohio, remaining there six years; removed to Madison Co., near his brother William. Here his second wife died in October, 1848, and is buried in Cramer Cemetery. He removed to Illinois, living a portion of the time with his daughters, Louisa and Mary Jane, most of the time with his son George, at Springfield, Ill. Stayed for a while with his daughter, Margaret Barker, at Keosauqua, Iowa. From here he went to Osseo, Wis., and made his home with his son John, who afterwards removed to Mondovi, Buffalo Co., Wis., where Uncle Robert died, June 22, 1877. In 1875, he visited my home at Sigourney, Iowa, for a few weeks, and his faith in his ability to produce a self-operating machine was still strong, and although nearly blind and eighty-eight years of age, he was very anxious to go to work and construct the machine. Although he had bankrupted himself several times, he was firm in the belief that he could yet succeed. He was a strong, vigorous man, a natural mechanic, and millwright by trade, and built several mills in his time. He preached the gospel also, and was of the old New Light, or Barton Stone, faith. He was a lover of humanity, and gave liberally for every benevolent purpose. He was rather of a roving disposition, having lived in Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Illinois. His hand was ever open to the poor, a marvel of industry, and the soul of honor. He was one of . God's noblemen.